Michael, Jackie, Jermaine, Tito — and Jaylen?
As presented in the upcoming likely-to-be-a-blockbuster biopic, “Michael,” the Jackson 5 would not be complete without the presence of Jaylen Lyndon Hunter.
The Memphis actor, now 15, will appear in the movie as young Marlon Jackson, the fourth-youngest member of the brother act that would achieve pop-music superstardom with the release of such Motown hit singles as “The Love You Save,” “I Want You Back” and “A-B-C.”
Memphian Jaylen Lyndon Hunter will appear in the upcoming movie “Michael” as a young Marlon Jackson.
Set for release on April 24, “Michael” follows the life and career of Michael Jackson from his days as a preteen sensation with the Jackson 5 in the 1960s and early ’70s through the release of “Thriller” in 1982, which helped transform the singer into a Beatles-and-Elvis-level global icon. Michael’s nephew, Jaafar Jackson, the son of Jermaine Jackson, plays the adult Michael.
An Atlanta actor named Tre’ Horton plays the more adult version of Marlon. But Jaylen Hunter — in his screen debut — will portray the youthful Marlon.
Jaylen’s scenes were shot last year, according to his mother, Crystelle Jones.
He already had experience in the role, performing as Marlon in the road version of the Broadway show “MJ: The Musical.” But by the time that tour reached the Orpheum in Memphis last fall, Jaylen was off the show and on set in Los Angeles, making the movie.
A student at Evangelical Christian School, Jaylen — the son of former professional basketball player and University of Memphis star Jimmie “Snap” Hunter — began acting, singing and dancing in stage productions at Idlewild Elementary School and at a performance arts camp, the Young Actors Guild.
Eventually, casting directors took notice of Jaylen’s talent (and of the audition tapes shared by his mother). By 2021, Jaylen was onstage at the Orpheum and on the road across America, in the role of the young Simba in the touring version of “Disney’s The Lion King.”
Jaylen Lyndon Hunter was the young Simba in the touring version of the Broadway production of “Disney’s The Lion King.”
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Although it’s uncertain how much screen time Jaylen will get in the movie, “Michael,” obviously, will expose the young actor to a much wider audience. The Lionsgate/Universal release is directed by Antoine Fuqua, whose credits include “Training Day,” which earned Denzel Washington a Best Actor Academy Award. The script is by Oscar-winner John Logan, whose credits include “Gladiator,” Martin Scorsese’s “The Aviator,” and two James Bond films, “Skyfall” and “Spectre.”
The “Michael” cast also includes Colman Domingo as Joe Jackson, the domineering patriarch of the Jackson clan, and Nia Long as Katherine Jackson, the mother of Michael and his siblings. Larenz Tate is Motown founder Berry Gordy.
Watch the official ‘Michael’ trailer
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Michael Jackson movie features Memphis teen as young Marlon Jackson
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.yahoo.com ’
